The government has allocated councils in England £500m to fund the repair of 10 million potholes.
It is the second of five instalments from the £2.5bn Potholes Fund announced by the Chancellor in his 2020 Budget.
The sum is part of wider funding from the DfT for road maintenance which totals £1.1bn in the current financial year.
Government figures suggest the average pothole costs £50 to repair, which is how it arrived at the 10 million total.
“Potholes are more than just a nuisance,” said transport minister Baroness Vere.
“They can be dangerous to drivers and cyclists alike, and cause damage to thousands of vehicles every year.
“The funding allocated today will help councils ensure roads in their areas are kept up to standard, and that the potholes that blight road users can be dealt with promptly.”
AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens welcomed the announcement but said that despite lockdown-related falls in traffic levels, repairs were still desperately needed.
“Last month, just 15 percent of our members told us that residential roads were in a good condition, with drivers in the North West, South East and East Midlands giving their streets the lowest ratings.
“Patching up roads may seem like a quick fix, but in reality, it is just a sticking plaster. In order for roads to remain safe and smooth, they need completely resurfacing.”
Mr Cousens added that residential roads in England get resurfaced on average every 119 years, according to studies.
“If you’re street is lucky enough to be chosen, we’d recommend a socially distanced celebration, as it will probably be a once in a lifetime event!”
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